America Car Rental Inc

Review: I paid a $600 deposit November 23, 2014. When I returned the car I was told I will receive my $600 deposit within 5-7 business days. It has been over 1 month now and I have called the San Diego office more than 10 times and keep getting the run around from the manager "Jonathan". I was told to call the corporate office and have tried numerous times to get in contact with someone and keep getting the voicemail, which is full! I read reviews on Yelp and this is not the first time this company has FAILED TO RETURN $600 DEPOSIT. Is this legal?? Please help me.Desired Settlement: My $600 deposit

Business

Response:

refund was given to the customer on January the 12, 2015 Our office was temporary closed our account was closed and we issued a live check to the customer . on the date of January 12, 2015. If you need further information please contact me.

Review: America Car Rental required an additional $600 deposit at the time of the car pick up. This was not mentioned when I booked the car on line. I was told that the $600 was only a deposit and would be refunded back to my card once the car was returned. The charge was made 10-16-14 and the car was returned 10-21-14. I was not given a refund when I returned the car but was told that I would see the refund within 6 days. It is 12-1-14 I have not received my $600 deposit. I have called the company several times and each time they say they will take care of it. I have disputed the payment with my credit card company.The charge is still on my card.Desired Settlement: I would simply like my $600 deposit refunded back to my card and for America Car Rental to explain why they take customers money and do not return it in a timely manner.

Review: On November 17, 2014, I rented a car from America Car Rental by [redacted] airport (newport location). America Car Rental charged me $600 for the security deposit and $87.81 for the rental. The car was great and returned in excellent condition.

-Several weeks later (December, 2014) I called to find out why the $600 deposit charge had not been credited. I spoke to [redacted]. She informed me there was some problem with the billing company and she would take care of it.

-Several weeks later (December, 2014) I called again as I hadn't heard back from [redacted]. I learned that the Orange County location was closed and operations had been moved to LA. After many calls, I spoke to [redacted] again who now informed me that the billing department had messed things up with regard to the credits and that she would have the headquarters office send me a check for $600. I gave her may address and waited...

-Several weeks later (January 2015), I called [redacted]) to find out where my $600 check was. She told me she would investigate and call me back.

-This week (February 10, 2015), I called back because I have not heard any response from [redacted]. No answer, no answer, no answer.

This issue is not resolved and it has now been 3 months since my rental and I have yet to receive the $600 credit.Desired Settlement: I would like my $600 deposit to be credited back to my account or a check for $600 to be mailed to me or I will come pick it up.

I would also like some notification from the Revdex.com that these practices have been addressed and that America Car Rental is not continuing to do this to customers.

Review: I booked a rental. LUXURY SUV through Expedia. Arrived and had to call to get picked up. Not stated on expedia a call would need to be made. Upon arrival to pick up after loading a Nissan armada NOT a luxury SUV I was asked for a 1600 dollar deposit. I said I would not and go someplace else. In a bind of course they waived it for an additional 65 dollars. Then they decided to tell me they don't take AMEX not disclosed on their website or through expedia. HAD TO DEBIT MY CHECKING. then the employee went over every single tiny nick ding and scratch. Made me afraid to use the vehicle. Then an employee called to ask me if their credit card was left in the rental. It was. We had to turn around and return it Our departure time was noted on expedia and made clear to the clerk prior to taking vehicle. On our departure day THEIR OFFICE WAS CLOSED. I called and called. When I was able to get through I was to to lick keys in vehicle and get a shuttle or can for my family of four at my expense. There was nothing they could do! We took the rental to airport with their approval after much arguing. We parked it their at their expense when picked up. We filled the tank with fuel and text a message with the location. And pictures of location and parking ticket to pay from. I'm want a full reimbursement. This was horrible service. Terrible Communication. Unprofessional. in every manner

Never has a car rental company tried to make me a deposit! Or refused to take me to airport or hid information that is extremely important or refused my AmexDesired Settlement: I want to be reimbursed for the horrid experience troubles and shady pricing and additional charges

This was wrong!

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern,

Review: I paid a $400 deposit for a rental car.I returned the car in the same condition as when rented.I was supposed to receive a $400 refund to my credit card.I have not reveived the refund of the deposit.I have called several time and spoken to Jonathon, who always says the refund will be processed and he will email me a confirmation. I have never received any emails from him other than the one at the start of the process that says the refund process has been started.I have email several times and have never received a response.Desired Settlement: I want the $400 refunded to my Visa card.

Business

Response:

To Whom It May Concern,

Review: I was scheduled to rent a car through Car Rentals.com, from America Car Rental from 11/26-12/3/14. When the driver picked me up from the SD airport, he began to ask a lot of questions about where I would be going. When I told him, he just kept saying “wow, that’s far”. As the conversation continued, he mentioned that the deposit would be $600 if I didn’t purchase the vehicle insurance through them. I told him that I had already purchased insurance through another carrier that was on the same Car Rentals.Com site. He said that they have to charge $600 because they are a smaller company. When I arrived at their office, there were 3 guys in this tiny office and I immediately felt uncomfortable. The driver told me the only way to avoid paying the $600 deposit was to pay them an additional $104, but he never told me what that was for. I had a feeling that an additional $104 would not be all that I would be paying, so I left without renting the car. The van that took me from and back to airport, smelled like it had been stored in an mechanic’s garage and so did my clothing for the rest of the day. I was also questioned on the return trip by a new driver. I initially arrived at the airport at 1:36 pm, but didn’t reach my destination until about 8 pm. America Car Rental immediately charged me the full amount for the car that I declined. I had to work on renting another car, on such a short notice, and one day before Thanksgiving. When I talked to America Car Rental about the charge, they said that was the cancellation fee. I obviously missed that there was a $600 deposit for cars, $1,200 deposit for SUVs, etc. It was behind a link and off to the right on their website. I wouldn’t have tried their service to had I saw that link beforehand. I am very dissatisfied with how this was handled, though there was an oversight on my part. I feel that America Car Rental is a sham. The business phone number is to one of their cell phones, which they rarely answer.Desired Settlement: I would like to have at least half of the money that they have charged me, put back onto my credit card.

Review: I rented a car from their establishment about a month ago. The car rental included a $400 deposit, which was to be returned when the car was returned in good condition. The car was returned in the exact condition that I rented it, which was confirmed by the employee upon its return. The company never returned my deposit. I have contacted their office probably 10 times and talked to two different individuals. After several days of contact an employee named J[redacted] finally told me they must have made a mistake because they saw that my deposit was never returned, and that I would get it back within five business days. It has now been ten business days. I have called back two more times and on both occasions, I was told someone will call me right back, which never happened.Desired Settlement: I would like my deposit of $400 returned to me like it was supposed to.

Review: On 7/5/2014, I rented a vehicle from America Car Rental in San Diego, CA. The estimated charges prior to the rental were $193.88 and after the car was returned on 7/13/2014, the receipt I was given stated that the total charges were $193.88. When I received my credit card statement, the charge on my statement by America Car Rental was $197.41. I was also charged a foreign transaction fee of $5.33 by my credit card because the transaction was processed through Mexico. I contacted the company immediately to advise of the overcharge and the individual I spoke with said he would look into and get back to me. Three weeks later when I had not heard back yet, I attempted to contact them again via telephone, left a message, but no one called me back. In a third attempt to contact the company, the individual I spoke to said he would not refund me the over charges and also would not refund me the transaction fee. I was never advised at the time of the transaction that the it would be processed through Mexico and that I would be charged the fee. If I had been advised, I would have used another method of payment. Additionally, the company is located in SAN DIEGO, CA (USA) not in MEXICO. There was no disclosure about the transaction fee. Furthermore, he rental was reserved through www.carrentals.com, which does not even allow one to reserve cars in Mexico. So, not only did America Car Rental overcharge my account without authorization, they did not disclose that my credit card would be charged through Mexico and I would incur additional fees.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund of the overcharge ($3.53) plus the refund of the transaction fee ($5.33) for a total of $8.86.

Business

Response:

To Whom This May Concern,

Review: When we picked up the car at their rental office in a business strip mall on 1/30, we were told that that we had to provide both proof of insurance and a $400 deposit (my husband and I have rented cars for years and have never had these required before - this requirement was not included in any of the email confirmations we received). We paid the deposit and had our insurance agent fax over ins info the next day. The car was in good working order (no dents or scratches) which we signed off on, but it only had 1/2 tank of gas. When we pointed out the gas situation, the company rep told us to return the car with the same amount of gas. When we returned the car on Sunday morning, 2/16, the office was closed (we were not told in advance that the office was not open on Sundays). We left a voice message on the company's 800 number to let them know we were dropping off the car and then, locked up the car, deposited the keys in the mail slot and hired a taxi to get us to the airport. The day after we returned home, my husband received an email from the company, stating that we were being charged for the following: 1. Car repairs due to scratches on the door. When we dropped off the car around 10:00 am that Sunday, the car was in perfect condition with no scratches or dents at all. Our position is, after we dropped off the car in the center parking lot and left the voice message, the car was no longer in our care and control. Note: We had to park the car in an open parking lot (there was not specific protected area for this company's rental cars). 2. Cleaning charges for the car. The company's email stated that the car was "extremely dirty" (they provided pictures showing one empty water bottle on the back floor, one valet parking stub and three napkins in the side door pocket. We think it's unreasonable to call this extremely dirty. 3. The cost to fill the gas tank, since we had returned the car 1/2 full per the directions of the company rep.Desired Settlement: We are asking for all of these charges to be dismissed. The company did try to run these charges through two of our credit cards, which we immediately reported and disputed. Now they are trying to submit a claim against our auto insurance policy. Our impression is they took our credit card and insurance information in order to process these erroneous charges after the fact. This is without a doubt the worst rental car experience we have ever had and are asking for Revdex.com assistance.

Business

Response:

Regarding the complaint of Mr. & Mrs [redacted], I am working with their insurance company (United Insurance Counselors ) [redacted] I have sent copies of previous diagrams rental prior to the [redacted] rented copies of after rentals diagrams along with Pictures of the damages per request of the insurance company . The customer was notified of all damages below is a e-mail that was sent to the [redacted] on Feb 17, 2014

Review: A $600 charge was put on my card as a 'damage deposit' for a car rental. After a month of weekly phone calls to follow up, they have not yet returned my deposit. Online reviews show this is apparently their normal way of doing business!

http://www.yelp.ca/biz/america-car-rental-san-diego-2

They need to give my money back, AND they should have their merchant credit card privileges revoked!Desired Settlement: Refund my full $600 USD illegally being withheld, plus reimburse me for the 4 hours of my time I have wasted trying to get reimbursed. I am a professional accountant, and my billing rate is $100 per hour.

Business

Response:

Hello, I apologize deeply this is the first I hear of this. I have refunded your deposit. Unfortunately I will not be able to credit you for the time it has taken for you to call us at the $100.00 per hour. Again I apologize for any delay and or inconvenience this may have caused.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted].

The business has stated they have refunded my deposit, however I have not received a refund. They still have my money.

Regards,

Review: When I rented a car from Economy Rent-a-Car on recent trip to the San Diego area (July 14-16, 2014) I was forced to deposit $400 dollars (via Credit card) because I declined their insurance coverage (I did not need their insurance). This deposit requirement was not communicated when I made the initial reservation. I have rented numerous cars in my business travel - never have I had to leave a 'deposit' for declining insurance coverage. I also provided proof of insurance. The counter employees stated that this was company policy and if I wanted a car (I did not have any other rental options at the time) I would have to leave a deposit and it would be refunded 24 hours after I returned it. After considerable conversation I was assured that this 'deposit' would be credited within 24 hours of returning the car. As of today (Aug 12, 2014) my credit card account Has Not Been Credited for this $400 deposit. Repeated calls to their number continually go into voice-mail.I have left several messages asking for an explanation and demanding that my account be credited.This situation needs to be corrected immediately.Desired Settlement: Economy Rent-a-Car should immediately credit my account my $400 deposit.

Business

Response:

Sorry it has taken this long. we will issue a refund in the next 10 business days thank you

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

There is NO REASON why this cannot be credited immediately -- not in 10 days ???

Regards,